Hong Kong’s next Chief Government shall be Beijing loyalist John Lee

John Lee, a pro-Beijing loyalist who's the only candidate for Hong Kong's top publish, has been elected to be Hong Kong's subsequent chief executive.

Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been elected to be Hong Kong's next chief executive.

Lee, the only candidate for Hong Kong's prime publish, won 1,416 votes in Sunday's election.

About 1,500 members of a largely pro-Beijing election committee forged their votes to pick out the new leader. Lee solely needed a easy majority to win.

The 64-year-old Lee, who was previously Hong Kong's chief secretary, will start his five-year term on July 1, changing outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong is a particular administrative region of China which returned to Chinese language rule in 1997, after the U.Okay. handed over the previous colony to Beijing. It's governed beneath the "one nation, two techniques" framework, and has limited election rights and a largely separate legal and financial system.

Hong Kong's electoral system went by means of a major overhaul last year after Beijing mentioned that only so-called "patriots" needs to be allowed to manipulate the town.

At a press convention after his election, Lee was asked if his efficiency will likely be "challenged by the dearth of electoral mandate and legitimacy within the eyes of some folks."

His reply was that his election was "run in accordance with the legal guidelines of Hong Kong."

"Anybody, who according to the legislation is certified, can take part and run for the election," he added.

Stating that he garnered greater than 1,400 votes, Lee stated: "With that variety of assist, in fact, it encourages me and gives me the strong confidence that my direction is agreed and shared by loads of election committee members."

John Lee, a Beijing loyalist, has been picked to be the city's next chief government.

Bloomberg | Getty Photographs

In a observe final week, analysts at Eurasia Group weighed in on Beijing's alternative of Lee as the subsequent Hong Kong leader.

"The choice of Lee, a profession police officer who played a leading function within the crackdown on the pro-democracy protests that started in 2019, signifies that Beijing's high priority for Hong Kong is maintaining political security reasonably than preserving its function as a dynamic world hub," they stated.

"Lee's appointment will reinforce Hong Kong's shift from being a world financial and enterprise center to taking part in a narrower function as a capital gateway for China," Eurasia's analysts mentioned. "While the dangers to political and financial stability are modest, Lee's administration could also be poorly outfitted to reply to a significant shock."

Consistent with China's Covid-19 policy, Hong Kong has a so-called "dynamic zero" technique for the virus and imposed strict measures in January in an try and blunt its unfold. Town tightened restrictions further in February as new cases raged, but began easing slightly in late April.

The election was earlier postponed as a consequence of a surge in Covid cases in the Asian financial hub.

I make it a very clear point that I am very acutely aware of the should be accessible to the world. And in addition it is a crucial thing for Hong Kong to be able to resume regular journey with the mainland.

John Lee

Hong Kong's incoming chief govt

On the press conference, Lee was also requested how he will present the international neighborhood that Hong Kong is open for business.

"Yes, we now have challenges now because of the need to management Covid-19 and among the measures are indeed creating inconvenience," he acknowledged.

"I make it a very clear point that I'm very acutely aware of the should be accessible to the world. And also it is a vital factor for Hong Kong to have the ability to resume normal travel with the mainland."

He said he will probably be speaking to his counterparts in Beijing "to find out what are the circumstances that will be required for normal travel to be resumed with the mainland."

Lee additionally called on citizens to comply with the recommendation and measures of the government, and said town will seek to spice up its vaccination fee. In keeping with government statistics, greater than 91% of the inhabitants above the age of 12 have acquired their first vaccine dose as of Saturday, and 85.2% have received their second dose.

Hong Kong's outgoing chief govt Lam congratulated Lee on Sunday.

"I prolong my honest congratulations to Mr John Lee on his successful election," she stated in a press launch. "The current-term authorities and I'll guarantee a seamless transition with the Chief Government-elect. We'll render all the help wanted for the belief of workplace by the brand new time period of government."

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that John Lee gained 1,416 votes in Hong Kong's chief government election. An earlier model of the story misrepresented that determine.